Dual writer for advanced magnetic recording

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one read head, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head is a wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write head comprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield, and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter height and a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole has a curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. The thermal fly height control element and the at least one read head are aligned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second write head.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to data storagedevices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing amagnetic recording head.

Description of the Related Art

Over the past few years, various magnetic recording methods have beenstudied to improve the areal density of a magnetic media device, such asa hard disk drive (HDD). Magnetic recording heads in HDDs can have asignificant effect on the overall performance and reliability of therecording device. Magnetic recording heads may be designed to achievespecific advantages, such as improved performance, but may consequentlyhave a negative impact on other characteristics, such as decreasedreliability.

For example, in conventional perpendicular magnetic recording, there isa tradeoff between linear density (bit per inch (BPI)) and track density(track per inch (TPI)), as the requirements on the write head for highBPI usually lead to a strong write pole that tends to leak magneticfield on the side track, hurting TPI capability. In magnetic recordingheads utilizing shingled magnetic recording (SMR) to write tracks on amedia, a wide-writing write head is used to sequentially write tracks ona media. The wide-writing write head widely writes a first track, andthen widely writes an adjacent second track, where the write of thesecond track trims the adjacent edge of the first track. As such, thetrack edges have a large curvature, which limits the signal-to-noiseratio (SNR) that can be achieved. Additionally, the large curvature ofthe track edges prevents a strong write head from being utilized, limitsthe bits per track inch (BPI) capability of magnetic recording heads andintroduces adjacent track interference (ATI) and a far trackinterference (FTI) constraints.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved magnetic recordinghead design.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media driveemploying a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording headcomprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one readhead, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head isa wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a firsttrailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write headcomprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield,and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter heightand a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole hasa curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. Thethermal fly height control element and the at least one read head arealigned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second writehead.

In one embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole. The magnetic recording head furthercomprises a second write head disposed adjacent to the first write headcomprising a second main pole, a second trailing shield disposedadjacent to the second main pole, and one or more side shieldssurrounding two or more surfaces of the second main pole. The magneticrecording head further comprises one or more read heads, wherein a firstread head of the one or more read heads is aligned with the second mainpole of the second write head, and a thermal fly height control elementaligned with the second main pole of the second write head and the firstread head.

In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole, and a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole. The magnetic recording head furthercomprises a second write head disposed adjacent to the first write headcomprising a second trailing shield, and a second main pole comprising afirst surface, a second surface, and a third surface, wherein the firstsurface of the second main pole has a curved U-shape, and wherein thefirst surface of the second main pole is disposed adjacent to the secondtrailing shield. The second write head further comprises a trailing gapdisposed between the first surface of the second main pole and thesecond trailing shield and one or more side shields surrounding thesecond and third surfaces of the second main pole.

In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole, a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole, and a first seed layer surrounding twoor more sides of the first main pole, the first seed layer having afirst thickness. The magnetic recording head further comprises a secondwrite head disposed adjacent to the first write head comprising a secondmain pole, a second trailing shield disposed adjacent to the second mainpole, a second seed layer surrounding two or more sides of the secondmain pole, the second seed layer having a second thickness less than thefirst thickness of the first seed layer, and one or more side shieldssurrounding two or more surfaces of the second main pole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the presentdisclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description ofthe disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference toembodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Itis to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to otherequally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a disk drive embodying various embodiments of thisdisclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate fragmented, cross-sectional side views throughthe center of a read/write head facing a magnetic media, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 3A illustrates a magnetic recording head comprising a first writehead and a second write head disposed in a side-by-side formation,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3B illustrates the magnetic recording head comprising the firstwrite head and the second write head disposed in a stacked formation,according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3C illustrates the second write head of the magnetic recording headof FIGS. 3A-3B aligned with a thermal fly height control element and atleast one read head, according to yet another embodiment.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in oneembodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments withoutspecific recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, reference is made to embodiments of the disclosure.However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited tospecific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of thefollowing features and elements, whether related to differentembodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice thedisclosure. Furthermore, although embodiments of the disclosure mayachieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the priorart, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a givenembodiment is not limiting of the disclosure. Thus, the followingaspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrativeand are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claimsexcept where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to“the disclosure” shall not be construed as a generalization of anyinventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered tobe an element or limitation of the appended claims except whereexplicitly recited in a claim(s).

The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media driveemploying a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording headcomprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one readhead, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head isa wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a firsttrailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write headcomprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield,and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter heightand a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole hasa curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. Thethermal fly height control element and the at least one read head arealigned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second writehead.

FIG. 1 illustrates a data storage device in the form of a disk drive 100embodying various embodiments of this disclosure. As shown, at least onerotatable magnetic media 112 is supported on a spindle 114 and rotatedby a disk drive motor 118. The magnetic recording on each disk is in theform of any suitable patterns of data tracks, such as annular patternsof concentric data tracks (not shown) on the magnetic media 112.

At least one slider 113 is positioned near the magnetic media 112, eachslider 113 supporting one or more magnetic head assemblies 121. As themagnetic media rotates, the slider 113 moves radially in and out overthe media surface 122 so that the magnetic head assembly 121 may accessdifferent tracks of the magnetic media 112 where desired data arewritten. Each slider 113 is attached to an actuator arm 119 by way of asuspension 115. The suspension 115 provides a slight spring force whichbiases the slider 113 toward the media surface 122. Each actuator arm119 is attached to an actuator means 127. The actuator means 127 asshown in FIG. 1 may be a voice coil motor (VCM). The VCM includes a coilmovable within a fixed magnetic field, the direction and speed of thecoil movements being controlled by the motor current signals supplied bycontrol unit or controller 129.

During operation of the disk drive 100, the rotation of the magneticmedia 112 generates an air bearing between the slider 113 and the mediasurface 122 which exerts an upward force or lift on the slider 113. Theair bearing thus counter-balances the slight spring force of suspension115 and supports slider 113 off and slightly above the media 112 surfaceby a small, substantially constant spacing during normal operation. Themagnetic field generated from the magnetic head assembly 121 magnetizesthe data bits in the media 112.

The various components of the disk drive 100 are controlled in operationby control signals generated by control unit or controller 129, such asaccess control signals and internal clock signals. Typically, thecontrol unit or controller 129 comprises logic control circuits, storagemeans, and a microprocessor. The control unit or controller 129generates control signals to control various system operations, such asdrive motor control signals on line 123 and head position and seekcontrol signals on line 128. The control signals on line 128 provide thedesired current profiles to optimally move and position slider 113 tothe desired data track on media 112. Write and read signals arecommunicated to and from write and read heads on the assembly 121 by wayof recording channel 125.

The above description of a typical magnetic disk storage system and theaccompanying illustration of FIG. 1 are for representation purposesonly. It should be apparent that disk storage systems may contain alarge number of disks and actuators, and each actuator may support anumber of sliders.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate fragmented, cross sectional side views throughthe center of read/write heads 200, 290, facing the magnetic media 112,respectively, according to various embodiments. The read/write heads200, 290 may each correspond to the magnetic head assembly 121 describedin FIG. 1. The read/write head 200 of FIG. 2A and the read/write head290 of FIG. 2B are the same; however, the read/write head 200 of FIG. 2Aillustrates only one write head 250 while the read/write head 290 ofFIG. 2B comprises two write heads 210, 250. The read/write head 200 ofFIG. 2A may include another write head 210 disposed behind the writehead 250, hidden from view.

The read/write head 200 of FIG. 2A includes a media facing surface (MFS)212, such as an air bearing surface (ABS), a magnetic write head 250,and a magnetic read head 211, and is mounted such that the MFS 212 isfacing the magnetic media 112. The read/write head 290 of FIG. 2Bsimilarly includes a MFS 212, such as an ABS, a first magnetic writehead 210, a second magnetic write head 250, and a magnetic read head211, and is mounted such that the MFS 212 is facing the magnetic media112. The write head 250 of FIG. 2A is the same as the second write head250 of FIG. 2B. The read/write heads 200, 290 may each be anenergy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head. In FIGS. 2A-2B, themagnetic media 112 moves past the first and/or second write heads 210,250 in the direction indicated by the arrow 232 and the read/write heads200, 290 each move in the direction indicated by the arrow 234. It isnoted that, in various embodiments, the two write heads may be arrangedin a different configuration than this down-track setup.

In some embodiments, the magnetic read head 211 is a magnetoresistive(MR) read head that includes an MR sensing element 204 located betweenMR shields S1 and S2. In other embodiments, the magnetic read head 211is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) read head that includes a MTJsensing element 204 located between MR shields S1 and S2. The magneticfields of the adjacent magnetized regions in the magnetic media 112 aredetectable by the MR (or MTJ) sensing element 204 as the recorded bits.

The first write head 210 of FIG. 2B includes a return pole 256, a firstmain pole 254, and a first coil 258 that excites the first main pole254. The second write head 250 of FIGS. 2A-2B includes a return pole206, a second main pole 220, a trailing shield 240, and a second coil218 that excites the second main pole 220. A trailing gap (not shown)and a leading gap (not shown) may be in contact with at least the secondmain pole 220 of the second write head 250 and a leading shield (notshown) may be in contact with the leading gap. A recording magneticfield is generated from the first and/or second main poles 220, 254. Thetrailing shield 240 of the second write head 250 helps make the magneticfield gradient of the second main pole 220 steep. The second main pole220 may include a trailing surface 222 which may be parallel to aleading surface 236 of the trailing shield 240. The first main pole 254may further comprise a trailing surface 252. The trailing shield 240 maybe a magnetic material such as NiFe alloy. In one embodiment, thetrailing shield 240 has an Ms of about 1.2 T to about 1.6 T.

The first and/or second main poles 220, 254 may each comprise a magneticmaterial such as an FeCo alloy. The first and/or second main poles 220,254 may each be a tapered write pole (TWP) with a trailing edge taper(TET) configuration. In one embodiment, the first and/or second mainpoles 220, 254 each have a saturated magnetization (Ms) of 2.4 T and athickness between about 300 nanometers (nm). Each main pole 220, 254 maycomprise ferromagnetic materials, typically alloys of one or more of Co,Fe and Ni.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a first write head 310 and a second write head350 of a magnetic recording head 300, according to various embodiments.FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate different embodiments of the same magneticrecording head 300 comprising the same first and second write heads 310,350. The magnetic recording head 300 of FIGS. 3A-3B may be used in thedisk drive 100 of FIG. 1 and/or the read/write heads 200, 290 of FIGS.2A-2B. Similarly, the first write head 310 may be the first write head210 of FIGS. 2A-2B and the second write head 350 may be the second writehead 250 of FIGS. 2A-2B.

FIGS. 3A-3B are the same; however, in FIG. 3A, the first write head 310is adjacent to the second write head 350 in the cross-track direction(i.e., the x-direction) such that the first and second write heads 310,350 are disposed side-by-side. In FIG. 3B, the first write head 310 isvertically aligned with the second write head 350 such that the firstwrite head 310 is stacked on or over the second write head 350 in adirection perpendicular to the arrangement of FIG. 3A (i.e., aligned inthe y-direction). In other words, in FIG. 3B, a center axis of a firstmain pole 302 of the first write head 310 is linearly aligned with acenter axis of a second main pole 352 of the second write head 350. InFIG. 3A, a first trailing shield 304 of the first write head 310 isdisposed adjacent to a second trailing shield 354 of the second writehead 350 while in FIG. 3B, the first main pole 302 of the first writehead 310 is disposed adjacent to the second trailing shield 354 of thesecond write head 350. Thus, FIG. 3A illustrates the first and secondwrite heads 310, 350 in a side-by-side formation while FIG. 3Billustrates the first and second write heads 310, 350 in a stackedformation.

The first write head 310 comprises a first main pole 302 having a firstsurface 302 a (i.e., a trailing edge), a second surface 302 b, a thirdsurface 302 c, and a fourth surface 302 d (i.e., a leading edge). Thefourth surface 302 d may be a point, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, or couldhave a length longer than a point in other embodiments. The first writehead 310 further comprises a first trailing shield 304, a first trailinggap 306 disposed between the first surface 302 a of the first main pole302 and the first trailing shield 304, and first side gaps 308surrounding the second, third, and fourth surfaces 302 b-302 d of thefirst main pole 302. In one embodiment, the first write head 310 is awide-writing write head optimized to increase the BPI capability.

The second write head 350 comprises a second main pole 352 having afirst surface 352 a (i.e., a trailing edge), a second surface 352 b, athird surface 352 c, and a fourth surface 352 d (i.e., a leading edge).The fourth surface 352 d may be a point, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, orcould have a length longer than a point in other embodiments. The secondwrite head 350 further comprises a second trailing shield 354, a secondtrailing gap 356 disposed between the first surface 352 a of the secondmain pole 352 and the second trailing shield 354, and second side gaps358 surrounding the second, third, and fourth surfaces 352 b-352 d ofthe second main pole 352. Unlike the first write head 310, the secondwrite head 350 further comprises a side shield 362 disposed adjacent tothe second and third surfaces 352 b, 352 c of the second main pole 352and a leading shield 364 disposed adjacent to the fourth surface 352 dof the second main pole 352. In one embodiment, the second write head350 is a narrow-writing write head optimized to increase the TPIcapability.

The first main pole 302 has a first width 322 that is greater than asecond width 326 of the second main pole 352, as shown in FIG. 3B. Inother words, the first main pole 302 has a greater width than the secondmain pole 352 in the cross-the-track direction (i.e., the x-direction).The first main pole 302 has a first length or height 324 that is lessthan a second length or height 328 of the second main pole 352, as shownin FIG. 3A. In other words, the first main pole 302 has a shorter lengthor height than the second main pole 352 in the along-the-track direction(i.e., the y-direction), or from a trailing edge of the first main pole302 to a leading edge of the first main pole 302. Such a configurationof the first main pole 302 having a larger width 322 and a shorter orsmaller height 324 will produce a stronger field and down-track fieldgradient to achieve a higher BPI while avoiding an issue called “donutshape footprint” that occurs for a wide write pole having a long orlarge height due to the demagnetization effect. The demagnetizationeffect causes a write pole to be less saturated, thus degrading thewrite head field and BPI. The first write head 310 having a wide firstmain pole 302 and no side shields allows the first write head 310 tomaximize the write field from the first main pole 302. The second writehead 350 having a narrow second main pole 352 enables the second writehead 350 to perform very fine, focused writes to a media.

To form the first main pole 302 of the first write head 310 having ashorter height than the second main pole 352 of the second write head350, the openings for the first and second main poles 302, 352 areformed, for example, by reactive ion etched (RIE) to define the mainpoles 302, 352. A first seed layer, such as a ruthenium layer, is thendeposited around and/or on the first and second main poles 302, 352. Thesecond write head 350 is then masked. A second seed layer comprising thesame material as the first seed layer is deposited around and/or on thefirst main pole 302 of the first write head 310 to reduce the height ofthe first main pole 302. The second write head 350 is then unmasked.Thus, the first write head 310 as a thicker seed layer than the secondwrite head 350, which reduces the height of the first main pole 302.

The first and second seed layers may make up the first and second sidegaps 308, 358. As such, the first side gaps 308 of the first write head310 have a first width 332 greater than a second width 334 of the secondside gaps 358 of the second write head 350, resulting in the first andsecond main poles 302, 352 having different heights. Stated otherwise,the first and second main poles 302, 352 have different heights due tothe different widths or thicknesses of the first and second side gaps308, 358.

Additionally, the first trailing gap 306 of the first write head 310 andthe second trailing gap 356 of the second write head 350 may havedifferent widths in the y-direction. In one embodiment, the firsttrailing gap 306 may have a first width 336 that is greater or wider inthe y-direction than a second width 366 of the second trailing gap 356.In another embodiment, the first width 336 of the first trailing gap 306may be smaller or narrower in the y-direction than the second width 366of the second trailing gap 356. The first and second trailing gaps 306,356 having different widths enables independent optimization of thefirst and second write heads 310, 350 in order to achieve the best fieldgradient, and thus, improved BPI capabilities.

The magnetic recording head 300 may be used by the controller 129 of thedisk drive 100 to execute random writes to a media. When writing to amedia, the controller 129 may cause the first write head 310 to widelywrite every other track (e.g., the even tracks). Following the write ofthe even tracks by the first write head 310, the controller 129 may thencause the second write head 350 to narrowly write the remainingunwritten tracks (e.g., the odd tracks). In one embodiment, the secondwrite of the second write head 350 trims the adjacent edges of the eventracks written by the first write head 310, and thus, the writing of themedia does not experience reading track edge curvature, which increasesthe areal density capacity (ADC).

FIG. 3C illustrates the second write head 350 of the magnetic recordinghead 300 aligned with a thermal fly height control (TFC) element 382 andat least one read head (R₁) 384, according to one embodiment. The TFCelement 382 is disposed between the second main pole 352 and the atleast one read head 384. As shown in FIG. 3C, a center axis 380 of thesecond main pole 352 of the second write head 350 is aligned with theTFC element 382 and the at least one read head 384. Since the secondwrite head 350 has a narrower main pole 352, the performance of thesecond write head 350 is more sensitive to the spacing between thesecond write head 350 and a media compared to the first write head 310having a wider main pole 302. A TFC element 382 aligned to the secondmain pole 352 enables more precise control of the spacing of the secondwrite head 350 to the media, therefore resulting in an overall improvedADC performance.

While the magnetic recording head 300 may comprise a plurality of readheads, at least one read head 384 is aligned with a center axis 380 ofthe second write head 350. In one embodiment, more than one read headmay also be aligned with the center axis 380 of the second write head350. In another embodiment, additional read heads may be offset from thecenter axis 380 of the second write head 350 towards the first read head310 (shown in FIGS. 3A-3B) and/or one or more additional read heads maybe aligned with the first write head 310.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3C, the first surface 352 a of the secondmain pole 352 of the second write head 350 is curved to have a U-shapeor a concave shape. The first surface 352 a of the second main pole 352is curved such that the portion of the first surface 352 a disposed onthe center axis 380 is closer to the fourth surface 352 d than the endsof the first surface 352 a coupled to the second and third surfaces 352b, 352 c. In other words, the first surface 352 a of the second mainpole 352 is disposed a first distance below the interface of the secondtrailing gap 356 and the second side gaps 358 while the first surface302 a of the first main pole 302 is substantially parallel to theinterface of the first trailing gap 306 and the first side gaps 308.

The first surface 352 a of the second main pole 352 having a curvedshape allows for writing straighter transitions with less track edgecurvature, thus enabling higher ADC. The first surface 302 a of thefirst main pole 302 of the first write head 310 may optionally be curvedto have a U-shape or a concave shape like the second main pole 352. Insuch an embodiment, the curved first surface 352 a of the second mainpole 352 would be disposed a first distance below the interface of thesecond trailing gap 356 and the second side gaps 358 and the curvedfirst surface 302 a of the first main pole 302 would be disposed asecond distance below the interface of the first trailing gap 306 andthe first side gaps 308, the first distance being greater than thesecond distance. In other words, the first surface 352 a of the secondmain pole 352 would have a steeper or deeper curve than the firstsurface 302 a of the first main pole 302.

By utilizing a magnetic recording head comprising a first writing headconfigured to optimize the BPI and a second writing head configured tooptimize the TPI, tracks of a media may be randomly written withoutlimiting the SNR, without ATI/FTI constraints, and without sufferingreading track edge curvature. As such, the dual write head design has anincreased ADC. Moreover, utilizing a first write head having a shortermain pole height allows for improved saturation of the first main pole,resulting in better-defined bits with higher SNR and higher ADC, and thesecond write head having a curved or U-shaped surface adjacent to thetrailing gap further enables a straighter transition. Thus, the dualwrite head design discussed above has an increased ADC, BPI, and TPI ascompared to conventional magnetic recording heads comprising a singlewrite head, resulting in both improved writes and reads of data on amedia.

In one embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole. The magnetic recording head furthercomprises a second write head disposed adjacent to the first write headcomprising a second main pole, a second trailing shield disposedadjacent to the second main pole, and one or more side shieldssurrounding two or more surfaces of the second main pole. The magneticrecording head further comprises one or more read heads, wherein a firstread head of the one or more read heads is aligned with the second mainpole of the second write head, and a thermal fly height control elementaligned with the second main pole of the second write head and the firstread head.

The first main pole of the first write head has a shorter height from atrailing edge of the first main pole to a leading edge of the first mainpole than the second main pole of the second write head. A write widthof the first write head is wider than that of the second write head. Thethermal fly height control element is disposed between the second mainpole and the first read head. The first write head and the second writehead are vertically stacked and disposed in a stacked formation. Thefirst write head is disposed adjacent to the second write head in across-the-track direction in a side-by-side formation. A second readhead of the one or more read heads is offset from the second main polein a direction towards the first main pole.

In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole, and a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole. The magnetic recording head furthercomprises a second write head disposed adjacent to the first write headcomprising a second trailing shield, and a second main pole comprising afirst surface, a second surface, and a third surface, wherein the firstsurface of the second main pole has a curved U-shape, and wherein thefirst surface of the second main pole is disposed adjacent to the secondtrailing shield. The second write head further comprises a trailing gapdisposed between the first surface of the second main pole and thesecond trailing shield and one or more side shields surrounding thesecond and third surfaces of the second main pole.

The magnetic recording head further comprises one or more read heads,wherein a first read head of the one or more read heads is aligned withthe second main pole of the second write head. The first main pole ofthe first write head has a shorter height from a trailing edge of thefirst main pole to a leading edge of the first main pole than the secondmain pole of the second write head, and wherein the first main pole hasa greater width in the cross-the-track direction than the second writepole. The magnetic recording head further comprises further comprising athermal fly height control element, wherein the thermal fly heightcontrol element is aligned with the second main pole of the second writehead.

The first main pole comprises a first surface, a second surface, and athird surface, wherein the first surface of the first main pole isdisposed adjacent to the first trailing shield, and wherein the firstsurface of the first main pole has a curved U-shape. A write width ofthe first write head is wider than that of the second write head, andfurther comprising a controller configured to cause the first write headto first write one or more even tracks or one or more odd tracks of amedia, and cause the second write head to subsequently write tracks ofthe media not written by the first write head. The write of the tracksof the media written by the second write head trims edges of the trackswritten by the first write head.

In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprises a first writehead comprising a first main pole, a first trailing shield disposedadjacent to the first main pole, and a first seed layer surrounding twoor more sides of the first main pole, the first seed layer having afirst thickness. The magnetic recording head further comprises a secondwrite head disposed adjacent to the first write head comprising a secondmain pole, a second trailing shield disposed adjacent to the second mainpole, a second seed layer surrounding two or more sides of the secondmain pole, the second seed layer having a second thickness less than thefirst thickness of the first seed layer, and one or more side shieldssurrounding two or more surfaces of the second main pole.

The first and second seed layers comprise ruthenium. A first trailinggap of the first write head has a different width than a second trailinggap of the second write head. The first main pole has a shorter heightfrom a trailing edge of the first main pole to a leading edge of thefirst main pole than the second main pole. A write width of the firstwrite head is wider than that of the second write head. A controller isconfigured to cause the first write head to first write one or more eventracks or one or more odd tracks of a media, and cause the second writehead to subsequently write tracks of the media not written by the firstwrite head. The write of the tracks of the media written by the secondwrite head trims edges of the tracks written by the first write head.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may bedevised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scopethereof is determined by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic recording head, comprising: a firstwrite head, comprising: a first main pole; and a first trailing shielddisposed adjacent to the first main pole; and a second write headdisposed adjacent to the first write head, comprising: a second trailingshield; a second main pole comprising a first surface, a second surface,and a third surface, wherein the first surface of the second main polehas a curved U-shape, and wherein the first surface of the second mainpole is disposed adjacent to the second trailing shield, wherein thefirst main pole of the first write head has a shorter height from atrailing edge of the first main pole to a leading edge of the first mainpole than the second main pole of the second write head; a trailing gapdisposed between the first surface of the second main pole and thesecond trailing shield; and one or more side shields surrounding thesecond and third surfaces of the second main pole.
 2. The magneticrecording head of claim 1, further comprising one or more read heads,wherein a first read head of the one or more read heads is aligned withthe second main pole of the second write head.
 3. The magnetic recordinghead of claim 1, further comprising a thermal fly height controlelement, wherein the thermal fly height control element is aligned withthe second main pole of the second write head.
 4. The magnetic recordinghead of claim 1, wherein the first main pole comprises a first surface,a second surface, and a third surface, wherein the first surface of thefirst main pole is disposed adjacent to the first trailing shield, andwherein the first surface of the first main pole has a curved U-shape.5. A data storage device comprising the magnetic recording head ofclaim
 1. 6. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein a write width ofthe first write head is wider than that of the second write head, andfurther comprising a controller configured to: cause the first writehead to first write one or more even tracks or one or more odd tracks ofa media, and cause the second write head to subsequently write tracks ofthe media not written by the first write head.
 7. The data storagedevice of claim 6, wherein a width of the tracks of the media written bythe second write head trims edges of the tracks written by the firstwrite head.
 8. A magnetic recording head, comprising: a first writehead, comprising: a first main pole having a first length in analong-the-track direction and a first width in a cross-the-trackdirection; and a first trailing shield disposed adjacent to the firstmain pole; and a second write head disposed adjacent to the first writehead, comprising: a second trailing shield; a second main polecomprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface,wherein the first surface of the second main pole has a curved U-shape,and wherein the second main pole has a second length in thealong-the-track direction and a second width in the cross-the-trackdirection, the second length being greater than the first length and thesecond width being less than the first width; and a thermal fly heightcontrol element aligned with a center axis of the second main pole ofthe second write head.
 9. The magnetic recording head of claim 8,further comprising one or more read heads, wherein a first read head ofthe one or more read heads is aligned with the center axis of the secondmain pole of the second write head.
 10. The magnetic recording head ofclaim 8, wherein the first trailing shield of the first write head isaligned with the second trailing shield of the second write head. 11.The magnetic recording head of claim 8, wherein the first write head isdisposed adjacent to the second write head in a cross-track direction.12. The magnetic recording head of claim 8, wherein the first write headfurther comprises first side gaps surrounding one or more surfaces ofthe first main pole, the first side gaps having a first width in across-the-track direction, and wherein the second write head furthercomprises second side gaps surrounding the second and third surfaces ofthe second main pole, the second side gaps having a second width in thecross-the-track direction greater than the first width of the first sidegaps.
 13. The magnetic recording head of claim 8, wherein the firstwrite head lacks one or more side shields.
 14. The magnetic recordinghead of claim 13, wherein the second write head further comprises one ormore side shields surrounding the second and third surfaces of thesecond main pole.
 15. A data storage device comprising the magneticrecording head of claim
 8. 16. The data storage device of claim 15,wherein a write width of the first write head is wider than that of thesecond write head, and further comprising a controller configured to:cause the first write head to first write one or more even tracks or oneor more odd tracks of a media, and cause the second write head tosubsequently write tracks of the media not written by the first writehead, wherein the write of the tracks of the media written by the secondwrite head trims edges of the tracks written by the first write head.17. A magnetic recording head, comprising: a first write head,comprising: a first main pole comprising a first surface, a secondsurface, and a third surface, wherein the first surface of the firstmain pole has a curved U-shape, and wherein the first main pole has afirst length in an along-the-track direction; first side gapssurrounding the second and third surfaces of the first main pole, thefirst side gaps having a first width in a cross-the-track direction; anda first trailing shield disposed adjacent to the first surface of thefirst main pole; and a second write head disposed adjacent to the firstwrite head, comprising: a second trailing shield aligned in thecross-the-track direction with the first trailing shield of the firstwrite head; a second main pole comprising a first surface, a secondsurface, and a third surface, wherein the first surface of the secondmain pole has a curved U-shape, wherein the first surface of the secondmain pole is disposed adjacent to the second trailing shield, andwherein the second main pole has a second length in the along-the-trackdirection greater than the first length; and second side gapssurrounding the second and third surfaces of the second main pole, thesecond side gaps having a second width in the cross-the-track directiongreater than the first width of the first side gaps.
 18. The magneticrecording head of claim 17, further comprising a thermal fly heightcontrol element, wherein the thermal fly height control element isaligned with a center axis the second main pole of the second writehead.
 19. The magnetic recording head of claim 17, further comprising atleast one read head, the at least one read head being aligned with acenter axis the second main pole of the second write head.
 20. Themagnetic recording head of claim 17, wherein the second write headfurther comprises one or more side shields surrounding the second sidegaps, and wherein the first write head lacks one or more side shields.21. A data storage device comprising the magnetic recording head ofclaim
 17. 22. The data storage device of claim 21, wherein a write widthof the first write head is wider than that of the second write head, andfurther comprising a controller configured to: cause the first writehead to first write one or more even tracks or one or more odd tracks ofa media, and cause the second write head to subsequently write tracks ofthe media not written by the first write head, wherein the write of thetracks of the media written by the second write head trims edges of thetracks written by the first write head.